When you’re looking at buying a new car, one of the things you’ll probably be the most interested in finding out is how powerful the vehicle is. BHP is one of the greatest indicators of a car’s power.
You can check the BHP and HP of a vehicle by looking in the owner’s manual, but there are also plenty of free and convenient online checks that you can run to find this information in seconds. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide for you today on everything you need to know about understanding the BHP of your car. Read on to discover more.
What Is The BHP Of A Vehicle?
The BHP of a vehicle relates to the Brake Horsepower, which is a way of measuring how powerful a vehicle is before it loses power due to other car components – for example, from the power steering pump, gearbox, or other parts.
This unit of measurement for establishing a vehicle’s power was actually established long before cars or other engines were invented. It comes from an engineer called James Watt, who calculated the rating based on the fact that “an average horse could do 33,000 foot-pounds of work per minute”. When engines were later invented, there was no better method they could use to measure power.
Although other factors come into effect when considering the power outage of a vehicle, the horsepower it produces has been long-established as a key consideration in this matter. Generally, the more HP or BHP a vehicle has, the better it will accelerate.
What’s The Difference Between BHP And HP?
Great question! While both BHP and HP take into account Mr. Watt’s horsepower calculations, the main distinction between the terms is that BHP (brake horsepower) considers power loss that could occur due to loss of friction. HP (horsepower) doesn’t incorporate this aspect. This means that the BHP will always be slightly lower than the HP.
While HP just looks at the vehicle’s acceleration, BHP is calculated after the mill feeds to the working parts. This includes the turbocharger, water pump, alternator, gearbox, and drivetrain.
To calculate the BHP of a vehicle, auto companies usually force the engine to full revs before decelerating to a dead stop.
What Else Affects The Overall Performance Of My Car?
While the HP and BHP of a vehicle are essential indicators of a car’s performance, many other factors could influence your vehicle’s overall performance. Some of these features include how aerodynamic the car is, how much it weighs, the body type of the car, the torque, and many other factors.
Most BHP checks will incorporate these aspects to give you a well-rounded view of the vehicle. They’ll also include other details, including:
– The car’s make and model
– The fuel type required by the car
– The number of gears the car has
– The size of the engine and fuel tank
– The power of the vehicle in Kw and RPM
– The registered top speed of the car
– The car’s torque
You’ll also be able to learn about the car’s performance in real-life settings, such as how well it drives in a city, whether it’s reliable enough for highway driving, and if it’s suitable for country lanes or off-road trails.
By checking these details with Just Car Checks you’ll be in an excellent position to know whether your new car
will be everything you need it to be or whether you’re simply wasting money on a vehicle that will struggle to get you from A to B.
What Information Do I Need To Run A BHP Check?
If you want to take advantage of a free BHP check of a vehicle you own or are thinking about buying, you can do this easily online. All you need is the vehicle’s registration to run these checks, and you’ll instantly be able to see all the information about the car, including the BHP.
What Else Will A BHP Check Show Me?
Running a BHP check on your vehicle takes seconds, and all you need is the car’s registration number.
Once you input the information, let the internet work its magic, and you’ll be presented with pretty much everything you might need to know about a vehicle. This goes beyond the technical information we listed above. You’ll also be able to find out information such as the car’s MOT and Road Tax status and when it’s up for renewal, the category of Road Tax the car falls into, how old the car is, when it was built, and so much more.
This is a great idea if you’re looking to buy a used car, so you don’t get manipulated into buying something faulty or overdue an MOT. You might even be able to find details on any outstanding finance against the vehicle, whether any theft alerts have been registered to it, if it’s been involved in an accident, etc.
All these factors should help you make an informed decision when buying a car. Not only will it give you the chance to walk away from a dishonest seller, but it might aid you in checking whether you’re paying a fair price and whether the vehicle is suitable for your needs.
So there you have it. Hopefully, you are now fully armed and educated on how to determine what BHP your own car is!